Process of obtaining zinc.



N0 MODEL.

, PATBNTED MAR. 8,1904. E. H. HOPKINS. PROCESS or OBTAINING zmo.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE f1. 1903.

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NlTED STATES Patented March 8,1904.

PATE T Fries.

PROCESS OF OBTAININGZINC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,1e1,,dated Marc a, 1904.

Application filed June 4, 1903. Serial No. 160,117. (No specimens- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVAN-HENRY HOPKINS,

clerk in Holy Orders, a subject of the King of in Processes of Obtaining Zinc from Bodies- Containing It and other Metals in a Metallic State, of which the following is aspecification.

Since the filing of my application on which Letters Patent No. 731, 184, bearing date June 16, 1903, was granted I have discovered that the process described therein is applicable to the separation of zinc from the slimes of the cyanid process for obtaining gold, the scums of theParkes process, and like substances which also contain Zinc and "another metal or metals in the metallic state. In those cases in which the metalliomixtur'e contains little or no lead the latter should preferably be added in the metallic state, as it is found that the lead alloys with the gold and silverand retains it in the retort. The metallic mixture containing the zinc and other metal, with or without the added lead, is then placed in aretort, and the zinc is distilled ofi under condi- ,tions similar to those described in my former patent. Gold'and any other metals present are left behind in the retort, thegold being recoverable by cupeling. As described in my former patent, air is prevented from entering the retort and from coming in contact with the zinc before it is liquefied.

The drawing shows a longitudinal vertical section of apparatus which may be used in the process, the furnace'proper being broken away.

e is a compartment having a door, f and in which is placed a receiver g. his a pan in whichthe charge isplaced.

While ,I have wn and. described an apparatus which'may' be used in my process, it

will be obvious that the apparatus shown in my patent before referred to and other forms of apparatus may be employed. As before stated, the process subject of the present application is intended for use on substances in which the zinc is contained in the metallic state, and therefore no addition of a reducing agent is necessary in the retort or, in the apparatus above. described, in the pan h. The condensing-chamber being filled with carbon and the receptacle for the charge being filled with the body containing metallic zinc without any reducing agent, the retort or mufile is subjected to the forming the flames, or the retort may be hot when the materials are inserted. When the necessary temperature is reached,'the gaseous zinc passes into the carbon-filled condensing-chamber in the apparatus shown through the perforations K: into the chamber d. As stated in my patent above referred to, the carbon at the point of entrance of the Zinc-vapor will be at a temperature above the condensing-point of zincvapor and will be so arranged that as the'va por advances it passes into cooler and cooler carbon until it gets into carbon at a temperature belowthe condensing-point of zincva' por, when it condenses and trickles down through the carbon. In the apparatus shown this will be approximately above the perforation Z, through which the zinc falls into the receiver 9. ,The remaining metals remain in the retort or the pan.

I claim I 1. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a'metallic state which consists of subjecting thesubstances to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of heated carbon from which air is excluded, substantially as described.

2. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state which bon from which air is excluded and which is heated to a temperature above that at which zinc solidifies, substantially as described.

3. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state which consists of subjecting the substances to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame there from, and in conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of carbon from which air is excluded and which is heated to a temperature below that at which Zinc vaporizes, substantially as described.

4. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state which consists of subjecting the substances to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the Zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of carbon from which air is excluded and which is heated to atemperature between those at which zinc solidifies and volatilizes, substan tially as described. v V

5. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state which consists of subjecting the substances to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of heated carbon from which air is excluded, and collecting the condensed metal as a liquid beneath the carbon, substantially as described.

6. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state, which consists of adding lead to the substances and subjecting them to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of heated carbon from which air is excluded, substantially as described.

7. The process of obtaining zinc from Sui?- stances containing it In a metallic state, whic 1 consists of adding lead to the substances and subjectingthem to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of carbon from which air is excluded and which is heated to a temperature above that at which zinc solidifies, substantially as described.

' 8. The process of obtaining zinc from sub.- stances containing it in a metallic state, which consists of adding lead to the substances and subjecting them to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the zinc-vapors into and condensing all of themin a mass of carbon from which air is excluded and which is heated to a temperature below that at which zinc vaporizes, substantially as described.

9. The process of obtaining zinc from substances containing it in a metallic state, which consists of adding lead to the substances and subjecting them to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, and in conveying the zinc-vaporsinto and condensing all of them in a mass of carbon from which air is excluded and which is heated toia temperature between those at which zinc solidifies and volatilizes, substantially as described.

10. The process of obtaining zinc from sub stances containing it in a metallic state, which consists of adding lead to the substances and subjecting them to heat, excluding air and the heating-flame therefrom, conveying the zinc- Vapors into and condensing all of them in a mass of heated carbon from which air is exeluded, and collecting the condensed metal as a liquid beneath the carbon, substantially as described.

H. D. JAunsoN, A. NUTTING. 

